122. Chapter 122: Conditions (Second Update)

Facing the low pressure created by the Ninth Prince, Yan Yan did not falter. Wu Tong, Cui’er, and the others, perceptive as ever, quietly withdrew from the room, naturally taking the children along, leaving the entire backyard to the Ninth Prince and Yan Yan.

Meanwhile, the gluttonous Hongzheng and Hongzhang were wholly focused on awaiting lunch, oblivious to their biological mother’s perilous situation.

Only after everyone had left did the Ninth Prince suppress his anger and speak, “Why not come back with me? What’s there to stay for in this miserable place?”

Yan Yan pressed her lips together and replied firmly, “I will go back with you, but not to your mansion.”

Her tone was resolute, her expression solemn. The Ninth Prince’s heart sank with displeasure. Who had said it before? This woman must not be spoiled. Here he was, coming in person to fetch her, yet she dared to set conditions.

His face darkened as he stared silently at Yan Yan. Yet she seemed to have made up her mind, continuing, “Master, I am foolish and cannot see clearly the affairs of the backyard. If it weren’t for Madam Song and Cui’er’s quick wit, Hongzheng might have…” She deliberately paused mid-sentence.

The Ninth Prince sighed softly. Seeing Yan Yan’s sorrowful expression, he beckoned her over, “Come here.”

Slowly, Yan Yan shuffled to his side. With a large hand, the Ninth Prince pulled her down to sit on his lap. “You are my favored consort. No matter how unwilling you are, you cannot always live outside. Besides, my primary consort is always here. Do you intend to hide forever?”

“But…” Yan Yan tilted her head, looking closely at him. At such close range, she clearly saw the fatigue etched on his face and the stubble he hadn’t had time to shave. Knowing how hard these days must have been for him, her heart inexplicably softened, and the words she had prepared failed to come out.

It seemed all the talk about women needing to think more for themselves and have their own opinions in life was a lie. When struck by love, more than half the time, it comes with compromise. Seeing Yan Yan’s gaze linger on his face, the Ninth Prince smiled faintly. His large hand cupped the back of her head, pulling her in for a firm kiss.

Yan Yan’s eyes widened. She had intended to negotiate, yet how had it come to this? She struggled slightly, unaware that the Ninth Prince’s eyes had grown deeper and darker. Before long, he lifted her in his arms and strode toward the inner chamber.

As Yan Yan was pressed onto the bed, still confused, she pushed against his chest softly, “Master, I still have things to say.” But the Ninth Prince caught her hand, placing it on his waist, gently biting her lip. “You little tormenting enchantress…”

Yan Yan burst out laughing, the sound light and spontaneous. The more she thought about it, the more amusing it became. The Ninth Prince was truly adorable—just like the domineering princes of ancient times, right down to the lines. It was utterly ridiculous.

Her laughter grew exaggerated in the intimate atmosphere, leaving the Ninth Prince bewildered. Yet he was not the sort to feel aggrieved by such laughter. In no time, he silenced her giggles, and soon the room was filled with sounds that made one’s face flush and heart race.

When Yan Yan awoke again, it was already midnight. The room was quiet, illuminated only by a single candle in the corner, lending the space a gentle warmth. Yet the Ninth Prince was nowhere to be seen. Yan Yan dressed and stepped out, finding him seated in the hall, reading official memorials. Could it be that there were government affairs demanding his attention even here?

Seeing the dim lighting, Yan Yan fetched two more candles and brought them over. “Master, it’s better to have brighter light when reading at night.”

The Ninth Prince gestured to a chair beside him. “Sit, keep me company for a while.”

Yan Yan settled down, but before she could bring up the earlier conversation, the Ninth Prince spoke first. “I’ve thought it over. I will try to have you stay in the garden from now on, but during festivals and holidays, you must still return to the mansion. You cannot be too arrogant with the primary consort; she is the legitimate wife, and you must respect her.”

Yan Yan pouted, muttering, “I haven’t been disrespectful.” Seeing the Ninth Prince frown, she quickly changed the subject, “Is it the estate at the Northern Hollow?”

The Ninth Prince shot her a sharp glance. “Look at your lack of ambition. The Emperor has granted us a garden near Changchun Park. I’m arranging renovations now. When we return to the capital, you’ll live there.”

Hearing this, Yan Yan immediately recalled the famous Old Summer Palace, realizing it must have been granted to the Fourth Prince around this time. She fell silent, and the Ninth Prince did not press the matter, instead sighing heavily. “But I’m afraid we’ll have to stay here for a while longer, unable to return to the capital anytime soon.”

“Why?” Yan Yan asked curiously. In this remote backwater, could there really be something for the Ninth Prince to handle?

He handed her the memorial, his tone tinged with anger. “I don’t know how those foreigners’ minds work. They can’t even tell where Tianjin Port is? The beach here is so shallow, it’s a miracle their ships haven’t run aground.”

Yan Yan scanned the memorial quickly. It was an urgent dispatch from Baili, reporting that a newly established British envoy had come to Qing China but failed to find the correct port and had run aground at Shanhaiwei.

Yet in this simple report, Yan Yan sensed a hint of conspiracy. After all, this place was not far from Tianjin. Even if the British were foolish, they couldn’t have missed the coastal proximity. Could this be a dramatic entrance intended to make a statement to Qing?

The Ninth Prince seemed to be pondering the same question, muttering darkly, “Why didn’t they stray further so our soldiers at Nanyaying could have just blasted them?”

Though he spoke thus, the task entrusted by Emperor Kangxi could not be ignored. Moreover, as the current overseer of the Lifan Yuan, even if he neglected it here, it would still fall to him when they returned to the capital.

Yan Yan’s face darkened upon hearing this. It wasn’t disdain for Qing, but rather a feeling that Qing represented backwardness. If a conflict arose, it would be akin to the Opium War starting a century early. Yet the Ninth Prince, raised with pride in the Celestial Empire, would never see it that way. To him, the British were uncivilized barbarians—the worst among barbarians.

To uphold the superiority of the Celestial Empire, after searching his luggage in vain for his official robes and yellow sash, the Ninth Prince decisively sent Wang Quan’er back to the capital to fetch them. He would never appear before the British dressed as a commoner.

Thus, the days that followed were leisurely. The Ninth Prince, freed from urgent duties, stayed with Yan Yan in the small fishing village of Changli, spending each day playing with the children. Life, for all its unexpected turns, was surprisingly pleasant.